I really liked this one. I ate it right up. Johnny and Izzy were smokin' hot together. Any time Izzy talked about her mom made me tear up. And I just I really liked this one. I ate it right up. Johnny and Izzy were smokin' hot together. Any time Izzy talked about her mom made me tear up. And I just love it when ex-girlfriends make an appearance.
I think KA might be listening because the furniture descriptions weren't as prominent in this book. Plus we got some classic KA because she brought back the kidnapping. I always loved those parts in her earlier books.
Not really much substance. It really was just a love story. Nothing new or surprising. But I still really enjoyed it. ...more
Hixon Drake's life is definitely complicated. He's Sheriff of a small town where everybody knows your business. He's newly divorced with three teenageHixon Drake's life is definitely complicated. He's Sheriff of a small town where everybody knows your business. He's newly divorced with three teenage kids. A divorce he didn't want but since it happened anyway he's moving on.
Greta Dare is a hair stylist and part time lounge singer. She's also divorced and she moved to the small town because of its excellent facility for her younger brother. Her pain of a mother happened to follow.
Hix and Greta have a combustible night together but Hix makes it clear in a not so nice way (twice!) that he's not looking for anything serious. But his words and actions don't mesh. He can't stay away from Greta.
I liked this story. The narrators were great. I also liked the format. It's usually the audio lovers that have to wait, this time the ebook lovers have to. *sticks out tongue* LOL. I love that KA writes older characters that experience a second chance at love. And the added drama was interesting too. Plus, I'm a sucker for b*tchy exes. Well done! ...more
Perfection! Daisy has always been a favorite side character for me in the Rock Chick series. I knew her story would be heartbreaking and boy was I rigPerfection! Daisy has always been a favorite side character for me in the Rock Chick series. I knew her story would be heartbreaking and boy was I right. Ashley outdid herself bringing on the waterworks in this novella.
Daisy is quite the character with her rhinestones and big hair and southern charm and larger-than-life personality. She's never had much good in life and then Marcus came along. Dang he was smooth. Daisy was it for him. Love at first sight. And he was so gentle and patient with her. I didn't think Marcus would be so swoony but he so was.
It makes me smile that Daisy got her happily-ever-after. Nobody deserves it more. Well done. ...more
I was excited to read this one. I was ready for a book where the Hero was from our world and the heroine was from the alternate world. Also, Noc and FI was excited to read this one. I was ready for a book where the Hero was from our world and the heroine was from the alternate world. Also, Noc and Franka seemed such an unlikely pairing I was curious how Ashley was going to make us like Franka. Oh boy did she succeed.
Once it was revealed why Franka is the way she is (spoiled, uppity, catty, etc.) I forgave her immediately. But I also thought Ashley did a good job of not giving Franka a completely new personality. Even though she's no longer set out to destroy reputations she still detests anything that requires domestic or manual labor. And she thinks people that are overly pleasant are disgusting. She made me laugh quite a few times.
Setting up Circe with the Lahn of our world was a brilliant addition to the storyline and it's worth reading for that alone. I would have liked more from Valentine. That felt unfinished. I also thought Noc was rather dull. His drama with his dad was ho hum. I liked the updates with the other couples. Once again I felt like we were overwhelmed with too many mundane details but all in all I thought it was a decent finale to the series. For the most part I enjoyed it. ...more
I was worried going into this. I know it hasn't been received well by KA fans but I actually kind of liked it. I've read a couple of alpha sub books bI was worried going into this. I know it hasn't been received well by KA fans but I actually kind of liked it. I've read a couple of alpha sub books before (Exit to Eden by Anne Rice, for example) so I knew what to expect. And I thought Ashley pulled it off well. The scenes felt like she did her research or she has one helluvan imagination (most likely both). They were creative and incredibly hot. Ashley is usually known for building up to sex but she hits the ground running in The Deep End.
Amelie is a domme. She's looking for a sub that will be a challenge. She's looking for something lasting. She's attracted to huge men that she can bring to heel but not completely break. In walks Olivier. He's a handsome beast of a man. He's clearly new to the scene. Just her type. They begin to play. But they also start to develop the closeness she's been looking for.
I could take or leave all of the pony speak/play. It didn't really do anything for me. I also wish we got a little more if why Olivier needed this lifestyle. He kept talking about things that were in his head but we never got into what things. But I appreciate Ashley trying something new and I'll continue reading the series....more
I've been looking forward to this book. I think having the Sebring brothers bookend this series was brilliant and it was a great way to say goodbye toI've been looking forward to this book. I think having the Sebring brothers bookend this series was brilliant and it was a great way to say goodbye to the Unfinished Heroes gang.
Let me get my dislikes out of the way first:
1. This book takes place four years after Nick's Fed girlfriend was shot so right off the bat we get vengeful, responsible, respectable, pulled together, loves his brother, Nick Sebring. We don't get to see any of the process of him growing up and I didn't like that. Ashley pretty much just fit him into the mold of any other KA Alpha male and he never quite felt like the Nick we knew and that wasn't fair.
2. It took forever for the story to progress. Every other page had a different time and date stamp with Nick and Olivia either arguing over who is cooking or having sex. They were both close-lipped so long about their business. Nothing new was happening. It was frustrating.
Okay that's it. I really did love the storyline. Olivia tore my heart out near the end and once again I was a crying mess. I loved the way Nick and Olivia met, it was scorching hot. I loved the way Knight was with Nick and I loved how Nick finally accepted it. I liked learning why Nick always acted out to his brother. It made sense. I'm just happy overall that Nick got an HEA. Well done!
Millie Cross met Logan "High" Judd when she was eighteen years old. It was love at first sight. They were gone for each other in a way the rest of us Millie Cross met Logan "High" Judd when she was eighteen years old. It was love at first sight. They were gone for each other in a way the rest of us can only dream to be. They had three years of that before Millie broke it off out of the blue.
Twenty years later, Millie has an awesome job, house, and wardrobe trying to find that perfection elsewhere because she'll never find it in another man. Hasn't even tried.
From previous Chaos books we know High was the hardest brother to convince to go legit. After he lost Millie he liked living dangerously. And even though he later married, had two daughters, and got divorced he never filled that hole that Millie carved out in his heart.
After a chance run-in, Millie is determined to get closure and explain to High what happened all those years ago and apologize once and for all. Here is where I was angry with High and disappointed in Chaos. I didn't understand all the hostility. The only thing Millie was guilty of was breaking up with her boyfriend...twenty years ago. High is still extremely bitter and his treatment of Millie was despicable. I also understand High's brothers having his back but they were one step away from offing the poor girl and that didn't feel like Chaos to me.
BUT...I'm still giving five stars. KA put me through the ringer with this book. So many feels. Every other page had me crying. Especially when we found out the truth about the break up. And if a book can touch me in that way that's some excellent writing. Whether you like what the characters are doing or not.
It's usually hard for me to buy when characters are still hung up on each other five, ten, twenty years later. I just can't wrap my head around how you couldn't move on. But KA did a great job making me feel High and Millie's once-in-a-lifetime connection and I was happy when they finally started to work it out. I also liked that KA didn't make it easy. Just because they were reunited didn't mean all the wounds were automatically healed.
I liked getting more of the story of the early days of Chaos. And things are getting more and more heated with Valenzuela. I hope Hound gets his own book, lots of good stuff there I think. And as usual I love the inclusion of the previous couples and Elvira is a hoot. Loved it!
I thought Hold On was a solid end to the 'Burg series. I really liked Cher and Merry. Cher was used by serial killer Denny Lowe while she w*4.5 stars*
I thought Hold On was a solid end to the 'Burg series. I really liked Cher and Merry. Cher was used by serial killer Denny Lowe while she was a stripper because of her resemblance to Feb but the good folks of Brownsburg adopted her and her son, Ethan, as one of their own. Merry is Rocky's brother and he pushed away his wife, Mia, for the same reasons Rocky pushed away Tanner years ago. They both need someone who can hold on, who can weather the storm.
I thought this book had everything I love about KA books - stubborn heroine, alpha hero, crazy exes, funny kids, hawt sex, kidnappings, lots of scenes featuring former characters, and a kickass epilogue. Could it have been shorter? Yeah. Could we have done without so much detail? Sure. But it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
KA gave us a proper tearful yet feel-good goodbye. She did it justice. Well done. ...more
I love the early KA books. The ones filled with colorful characters and gunfights and kidnappings and pure Alpha hotness. But I also love these sweet,I love the early KA books. The ones filled with colorful characters and gunfights and kidnappings and pure Alpha hotness. But I also love these sweet, real-life, contemporary stories.
Ride Steady is the story of Carson "Joker" Steele, member of Chaos and head of design of custom cars and bikes. He had a rough childhood living with his abusive father. He used to sketch and look over the fence to Ride and envy the family.
Carissa Teodoro is the former cheerleader/homecoming queen Carson was secretly in love with. But life hasn't turned out the way she envisioned. She married then divorced her high school boyfriend who is still putting her through the ringer for custody of their baby boy.
Joker runs into Carissa during a time of need and from there she's adopted by Chaos.
Joker and Carissa are so perfect for each other. I loved reading their story play out. Sometimes KA provides too much detail but it works in this story. I never wanted it to end but when it did my heart was full. If you're a fan of the boys of Chaos you'll love Ride Steady. Well done!...more
Josephine just lost her grandmother, Lydia. The only family she had left. The woman who took her in when her mother left and after her father, Lydia'sJosephine just lost her grandmother, Lydia. The only family she had left. The woman who took her in when her mother left and after her father, Lydia's son, failed her. Josie loved growing up in the lavender house in Magdalene, Maine. Then Josie went on to become the assistant to Henry, a world-famous photographer. The position allowed Josie to travel the world and meet lots of people. Alas, Josie was always a bit lonely as she never married or had children. This caused Lydia some worry.
Jake is unlucky in love. He has custody of his three children by two different women. He's an ex-boxer. And he and his children befriended Lydia years ago. They are also devastated by her death.
Jake and Josie meet. Thrown together. It's all very romantic.
I was unsure of this book at first. I liked the premise. Lydia's last wishes provided in her will were very sweet.
Josephine spoke very proper English. I couldn't help but give her a posh British accent in my head rather than the New England accent she most likely had. Jake's children were great. Ashley set the scene of the town and townfolk in a way that the series is sure to continue. I'm thinking Mickey or Coert will have their story next.
My only complaint is the story started to drag a bit. The only thing going on was making sundaes or melting Velveeta cheese. I had to take breaks, I couldn't devour it like I normally would of a Kristen Ashley book.
But there were plenty of laugh out loud moments and a few tears were shed as well. The epilogue was fantastic....more
I am absolutely and completely in love with Deacon! One thing I love about Kristen Ashley's contemporary books is that there are no crazy p
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I am absolutely and completely in love with Deacon! One thing I love about Kristen Ashley's contemporary books is that there are no crazy plot twists, no trying to one-up other books in this genre in order to stand out, it's just great story-telling.
The story begins with Cassidy, a wide-eyed twenty-three year old living her dream and filled with hope. She purchased a string of fixer-upper cottages in Colorado with dreams of running a homey little resort while hiking and hitting the slopes in her downtime. It's a lot of work, work she's willing to put in. Her first customer is a handsome, scary, empty man. Deacon. Over many years Deacon comes and goes. All with very little interaction with Cassidy. He gives her nothing but little does she know she gives him so much. Until one night everything changes.
I loved these characters so much. Cassidy is a classic KA heroine. She's gorgeous, sweet, goofy, and feisty. She's so good for Deacon. She slowly brings him back to life. Most of this book feels like it belongs in the Colorado Mountain series, which is not a bad thing. But around the 80% mark or so we begin to get the feel of Knight and Creed. Oh man! This is the second hottest sex scene in KA history (Apollo, Maddie, and adela tea is still #1 in my opinion). Holy hell that was amazing! I also felt a little warm every time Deacon growled, "Here." Oh my heart.
And once again Ashley makes good use of characters from her other series. I also liked the connection between the cottages and The Gamble. Very clever. Well done!...more
This book put me in the holiday spirit! I especially loved KA's story, I shed a few tears for Shy and Landon.This book put me in the holiday spirit! I especially loved KA's story, I shed a few tears for Shy and Landon....more
I love Kristen Ashley's formula: Hot alpha male, strong female who is not 18 years old and a size 2 and has lots of attitude, hot sex, some angst, andI love Kristen Ashley's formula: Hot alpha male, strong female who is not 18 years old and a size 2 and has lots of attitude, hot sex, some angst, and some kind of tragedy usually a kidnapping. I love Raid and Hanna as a couple and I especially love Gram. Loved the brief interactions with the previous unfinished heroes as well. I loved everything about this book except that it isn't as long as KA's other books. I finished too quickly and now it's over. :( If you love Kristen's other books this is another homerun! I like the author's note at the end as well, I agree completely! Rock on!!!...more
Like many KA fans, Shanda and I have been excited for the release of the finale of The Three series. And, for the most part, it did not disappoint. From that epic cliffhanger in With Everything I Am we know the last of the Three, Abel Jin, the vampire/werewolf hybrid (kickass!), found his mate, Delilah, and was finally found by The Dominion.
That's exactly where Wild and Free picks up. It's action-packed right off the bat because Abel isn't the only one who's found Delilah. There are plenty of wolves and vamps that don't want to see the prophecies come true.
We didn't fully get to know Abel and Delilah in this book like we got to know the other characters in their own books. Abel and Delilah accepted each other and their fate rather easily. There was no angst, no sass-throwin', no epic fuck ups on Abel's part, and that learning curve is what makes us fall in love with and root for them. To be fair, there wasn't much room for that in this story. They had to be serious and save the world after all, but it won't be putting Abel on our top KA alpha list. We liked Abel and Delilah as characters just fine but they will be forgotten.
One thing we can say though is KA is one of the best at writing a shit hot, first time sex scene between the two main characters.
"I wanna fuck you," he snarled. I stared. "Yeah," he ground out. "I wanna fuck you, Delilah. Consumed with the need and I have no idea why, but I can guess, seein' as it's like you're a bitch in heat, I'm a dog that catches the scent and his mind is wiped...wiped of anything...but the need to mount you and" - he leaned forward - "rut." "Holy fuck," I breathed.
Holy fuck indeed. *fans self* She also knows how to give us sweet.
"I love you too, bao bei, with everything I am, and I'll do it until the sun falls from the sky."
*sighs* We loved it when Lucien and Callum spoke those words and we loved it again when Abel did.
There were A LOT of characters in this book. We had to rack our brains remembering all of the vampires, werewolves, and concubines from the previous books all by name. Plus, there were many witches and wraiths added. It was brain-scrambling. The witches provided some comic relief. We loved the scenes from Yuri's pov and his time with the witches, one witch in particular, Aurora. We were happy for him and wanted more.
The ending fight sequence was everything we hoped it would be. It was bloody and emotional. The Three fit together. We loved watching Abel's journey of making sense of his abilities and feeling useful and worthy and seeing that play out. It was also satisfying seeing what Delilah had to offer. Leah and Sonia were no slouches in battle either and that rocked. The bunnies! Haha!
There were quite a few cheesy moments. Delilah, for instance, throwing her fist in the air screaming, "We are the Three!" This song came to mind. Also, someone like Hop surprising us with his guitar skills was sexy but Abel doing it wasn't. We were kind of embarrassed for him.
The epilogue was KA worthy. We were happy with the ending. We love KA's writing and it was a strong finale but it didn't leave us with the giddy or gut-wrenching feels that come with a five star KA book....more
I received an ARC courtesy of Grand Central Publishing through Netgalley.
Fire Inside is book 2 of the Chaos series. It's Lanie and Hopper's story. YouI received an ARC courtesy of Grand Central Publishing through Netgalley.
Fire Inside is book 2 of the Chaos series. It's Lanie and Hopper's story. You absolutely must read Motorcycle Man before you read this story, even moreso than Own the Wind (Chaos #1). When I first read the blurb I was excited that Lanie was going to get herself a badass biker. Plus, knowing what Lanie went through with Elliot and our less than favorable first impression of Hopper I knew their journey towards falling in love was going to be gooooood!
Lanie and Hopper have chemistry, that's for sure. In fact, at the beginning of the book they have an understanding. But that quickly grows, for Hopper at least. Throughout the book I had no doubt about Hopper's feelings. He helped Lanie battle the monster which is her nightmares and trust issues in his alpha, macho man way.
Now in case you are still thinking maybe Elliot was a good guy, that he was just led astray because of his desperation to make his girl happy then you will quickly be disgusted when it comes out what he did in Kansas City. It's probably the worst offense in the badass biker world when it comes to a man and his old lady, and no it's not infidelity.
I had no doubts regarding Kristen Ashley's skills to make me forgive Hop and fall in love with him. I wasn't wrong. Within a chapter or 2 you're rooting for him. Other good points in the book: ~Vance makes a cameo....Mmmmmm ~Hopper has some rock 'n roll skills ~Tack's, yes Tack's, feelings for Lanie are so sweet (ohmigod!) ~Hopper's kids are hilarious, especially Cody
I only gave 4 stars instead of 5 because this book doesn't have the typical Kristen Ashley angst, I wanted a Lanie/Mitzi or a Lanie/Beebee smackdown...I don't know something. Everybody was so mature and rational in this book, what the hell? I also kept waiting for Lanie to get kidnapped....oh well. It's still a great book that I couldn't put down. But if the next book is about Brick I'm hoping for a little more drama.
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